I'm not a comp savvy person, is there anyways that I could get some pictures in a desktop format and get them to switch from one to another in a series of shifting pictures? Sort of like a photobook of changing pictures.

set a custom background? right click the desktop, go to properties, select the desktop tab in the newly oepened window, list at the bottom and the browse button lets you select any image on your computer. if you mean random images as a wallpaper, find urself a copy of an application called "Style XP" (ddemo available online) and use that.